Force Gurkha 5-door: Force Motors has rolled out the latest iteration of the Force Gurkha in India. Priced at Rs 18 lakh, the new Gurkha 5-door variant enters the market alongside the updated Gurkha 3-door, tagged at Rs 16.75 lakh. Bookings, kickstarted on April 29, now mandate an upfront payment of Rs 25,000. Dispatches to dealerships are slated to commence this week, with test drives and customer deliveries set to commence by mid-May.
New Force Gurkha: Pricing and competitors
In the bustling Indian SUV market, the Force Gurkha finds its chief rival in the Mahindra Thar, which, presently, is available solely in its three-door guise. However, the Thar boasts a range of petrol engine options, 2WD variants, and automatic gearbox choices, contrasting the Gurkha’s sole offering of diesel-manual configuration, coupled with standard 4WD.
At its price point of Rs 16.75 lakh, the Gurkha 3-door stands Rs 1.75 lakh above the Thar AX Optional 4WD, marking the entry to Mahindra’s diesel 4WD lineup. Meanwhile, the recently introduced Gurkha 5-door lacks a direct competitor, pending the anticipated arrival of the Thar 5-door, potentially named the Thar Armada.
New Force Gurkha: Powertrain and features
Both iterations of the Gurkha are propelled by the same 2.6-litre diesel engine, sourced from Mercedes, now enhanced to deliver 140hp and 320Nm, a substantial upgrade from its previous output of 91hp. This puts the Gurkha ahead in power compared to the Thar, which relies on a 132hp, 2.2-litre diesel powerplant.
Equipped with a gamut of features including a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, digital instrument cluster, powered ORVMs, tilt and telescopic steering adjustment, rear camera, and tyre pressure monitoring system, the Gurkha surpasses the entry-level Thar in amenities, possibly justifying its premium of Rs 1.75 lakh.
